Energus was officially launched today by Ed Milliband MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, using a spectacular laser light show, at an event attended by over 200 nuclear employers, training providers and key stakeholders.

Energus is a £20m project to create a world class centre for skills training and business support services for the nuclear and energy related industries and is supported and funded by a range of strategic and funding partners including European Regional Development Fund, National Skills Academy for Nuclear, North West Development Agency, Northern Way, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Sellafield Sites and West Lakes Renaissance.

Based in Cumbria, Energus is the Northwest flagship centre of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear. Reflecting the ethos of the Skills Academy, Energus will be a world class centre for the provision of vocational skills excellence, spanning both further and higher education for the nuclear industry.

The centre is the first capital build project invested in by the Skills Academy.

It will provide Skills Academy Quality Assured training for up to 250 apprentices and a range of industry programmes featured on the Nuclear Skills Passport and also work with the University of Cumbria to deliver programmes to up to 200 undergraduates and postgraduates.

This will be a huge assistance to the Skills Academy, which has been established by nuclear employers to tackle the current and future skills barriers and challenges facing the Nuclear industry and all of its sub sectors including, decommissioning, waste management, defence, fuel processing and enrichment, power production and future new build.

Jean Llewellyn, Chief Executive of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear said;

“The launch of Energus is excellent news for the National Skills Academy, the nuclear industry, and for its future workforce, and we acknowledge the tremendous efforts of Andrew King and his team in bringing such an iconic centre to fruition.

It is vital for the nuclear industry to be able to recruit and equip people with the right competencies and skills to ensure the sector has a world-class skilled workforce that can operate safely, effectively and meet the future requirements of this rapidly changing industry. “

Skills and Apprenticeships Minister Kevin Brennan, said:

“I am absolutely delighted the Energus training centre has been opened on behalf of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear. It will set the benchmark in providing top-quality training and skills for the nuclear industry as the country moves towards a low-carbon future.

“This government continues to invest in skills. It is giving employers the opportunity to boost the skills of their workers to support the future development of nuclear power and to encourage young people to take advantage of the excellent facilities Energus will provide. “

Andrew King, Chief Executive of Energus

“Energus are delighted to be announcing the opening of Energus, on time and to budget. We have worked closely together with the National Skills Academy for Nuclear in the creation of this iconic and world class facility here in West Cumbria.

“We will continue to develop of our strategic partnership with the National Skills Academy Nuclear to ensure that Energus represents a beacon of excellence for the nuclear industry. By working together we will ensure that the training that is delivered is up with the best in the World and represents a national asset for the development of the UK’s nuclear skills base.”